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PRIMITIVE  AMERICAN  ARMOR 


By  Walter  Hough,  Ph.  D., 
Department  of  Ethnology,  U.  S.  National  Museum. 


"  Cornelias  Tacitus  doth  pleasantly  quip  and  jest  at  the  men  of  war  of  our  ancient  Gaules,  so  armed, 
only  to  maintaine  themselves,  as  they  that  have  no  means  either  to  he  offended  or  to  raise  them- 
selves being  overthrowne.-'    Montaigne,  Of  The  Parthian  Amies. 

In  the  IT.  S.  National  Museum  there  are  many  examples  of  primitive 
American  armor.  These  defensive  weapons  may  be  classed  as  parrying 
armor,  or  the  shield,  and  body  armor,  for  the  defense  of  the  head, 
trunk,  legs,  and  arms.  The  subject  will  be  treated  under  form,  mate- 
rial, structure,  decoration,  function,  mythology,  and  distribution. 

I.     Shield. 

The  shield  is  the  first  defensive  weapon  both  in  point  of  time  and  of 
usefulness.  While  the  shield  on  first  thought  may  seem  merely  **- 
intended  as  a  covering  for  the  vulnerable  points  of  the  body,  its  impor- 
tance is  far  greater  in  parrying.  Therefore,  with  this  idea  in  view,  the 
shield  may  be  as  simple  as  the  plain  parrying  stick  of  the  Australians, 
which  begins  the  classic  series  of  Lane  Fox.  Ifc+^t 

If  one  bears  in  mind  that  defensive  weapons  are  the  concomitants  of 
offensive  weapons,  the  development  of  the  shield  becomes  clear.  Thus, 
where  missile  weapons  are  used,  the  parrying  stick  is  a  natural  and 
adequate  defense.  Where  missiles  are  given  greater  velocity  with  the 
throwing  strap,  the  throwing  stick,  or  the  bow,  the  shield  must  cover 
the  body  better.  It  would  seem  that  the  broad  shield  is  the  counter- 
growth  of  the  bow. 

The  circular  shield  characterizes  the  Western  Hemisphere.  The 
North  American  shield  is  convex  and  from  12  to  26  inches  in  diameter. 
The  Mexican  area  is  perhaps  an  exception,  though  the  Codices  almost 
invariably  depict  the  round  shield,  and  the  surviving  Mexican  shields, 
on  which  Mrs.  Zelia  Nuttall  is  authority,  are  circular.*  The  Nahua 
shield  was  "  sometimes  rounded  and  sometimes  oval,  sometimes  rounded 
on  the  lower  side."  Some  shields  were  of  an  ordinary  size;  others  were 
intended  to  cover  the  entire  body  and  were  constructed  so  that  when 
not  in  use  they  could  be  folded  up  and  carried  under  the  arm.f  Lafitau 
conveys  the  idea  that  the  Iroquois  had  shields  of  different  shapes.^ 

As  to  material,  nearly  all  American  shields  are  made  of  thick -raw- 
hide, that  of  the  buffalo  and  elk  being  most  available.     Shields  worked 

L    *Nuttall,  Zelia,  on  Ancient  Mexican   Shields.     Interiiat.  Arehiv.  fur  Ethnologie, 
■eiden,  Vol.  v,  pt.  i,  1892,  pp.  34-53. 
t  Bancroft,  H.  H.,  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific,  Vol.  n,  p.  407. 

.•titan,  Maura  das  Sauvages  Aui^riquains,  Vol.  n,  p.  197,  Paris,  1724. 

627 


628 


REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,     893. 


out  from  a  single  piece  of  wood,  like  those  of  the  Dyaks  are  found,  on 
the  Rio  Maranon  in  South  America  (fig.  1).* 

The  Virginia  Indians  used  "  targets  made  of  barcks."t  The  Nava- 
joes  made  a  shield  of  cedar  rods  twined  together  with  cord  (Cat.  No. 
8401,  U.S.N.M.),  which  may  be  connected  with  the  rod  armor  of  the 
Athapascans  and  the  similar  cane  shields  of  the  Nahuas  of  Mexico. 

Among  the  Oeris  and  Chicoratos  of  New  Mexico,  "Another  kind  of 
shield  was  made  of  small  laths  closely  interwoven  with  cords,  in  such  a 
manner  that,  when  not  required  for  use,  it  could  be  shut  up  like  a  fan, 
and  was  carried  under  the  arm."  f 

"  In  Tobasco  and  along  the  coast,  tortoise  shells  inlaid  with  gold, 


Fig.  1. 

WOODEN   SHIELD. 
Cat.   No.  75881  17.  S.  N.  M.     Peru.     Gift  jf  the  Trocadero  Museum,  Paris. 

silver,  or  copper  were  commonly  used  as  shields,"  §  as  the  Malay  spec- 
imen from  Singapore.  Reeds,  grass,  hides,  or  ?nequen-cloth  coated  with 
India  rubber  served  to  protect  an  Aztec  common  soldier.  ||  The  Pue- 
blo tribes  "carried  round  shields  of  basketry,  of  heavily  and  closely 
netted  cotton,  or  of  thick  rawhide,  symbolically  painted."  1j 

*  Wooden  shield.—  Flat  disk  of  light  wood,  thicker  in  the  center,  forming  a  step. 
Two  hent  wood  handles  wrapped  with  hark  are  sprung  into  holes  in  the  rear  of  the 
shield.  Decorated  with  triangular  figures  in  red  and  yellow,  resemldingtents.  Diam- 
eter, 33  inches.  (Cat.  No.  75881,  U.  8.  N.  M.  Indians  of  the  Upper  Amazon  (Rio 
Maranon)  Peru.     Gift  of  the  Trocadero  Museum,  Paris). 

t  Hariot,  Thomas,  Virginia,  p.  24. 

|  Bancroft,  op.  eit.,Vo\.  I,  p.  579.  / 

§  Bancroft,  H.  II.,  op.  eit.,  Vol.  n,  p.  407. 

||  Bancroft,  loc.  cit. 

iJOushing,  F,  !!.,  article  -'Pueblos,''  in  Johnson's  Cyclopedia,  from  advanced 
sheets  in  new  edition,  now  in  press. 

J 


( 


OF   THE  \ 

UNIVERSITY      j 

Cf      PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR. 


629 


The  construction  of  the  North  American  shield  is  given  in  detail  by- 
George  Qatlin.    The  ingenious 
process    of    contracting     and 
hardening  the  hide  by  fire  was 
common. 

Sioux  shield  made  of  the  skin  of 
the  buffalo's  neck,  hardened  with 
glue  extracted  from  the  hoofs  aud 
joints  of  the  same  animal.  The  pro- 
cess of  "smoking  the  shield"  is  a 
very  curious  as  well  as  important 
one,  in  their  estimation.  For  this 
purpose  a  young  man  about  to  con- 
struct for  him  a  shield  digs  a  hole 
of  2  feet  in  depth  in  the  ground, 
and  as  large  in  diameter  as  he 
designs  to  make  his  shield.  In  this 
he  builds  a  fire,  and  over  it,  a  few 
inches  higher  than  the  ground,  be 
stretches  the  rawhide  horizontally 
over  the  fire,  with  little  pegs  driven 
through  holes  made  near  the  edges 
of  the  skin.  The  skin  is  at  first 
twice  as  large  as  the  size  of  the 
required  shield ;  but  having  got  his 
particular  and  best  friends  (who  are 
invited  on  this  occasion)  into  a  ring 
to  dance  and  sing  about  it  and  solicit 
the  Great  Spirit  to  instill  into  it 
the  power  to  protect  him  harmless 
against  his  enemies,  he  spreads  over 
it  the  glue  which  is  rubbed  and  dried 
in,  as— the^skiu  is  heated;  and  a 
second  busily  drives  other  and  other 
pegs,  inside  of  those  in  the  ground, 
as  they  are  gradually  giving  away 
and  being  pulled  up  by  the  contrac- 
tion of  the  skin.  By  this  curious 
process,  which  is  most  dexterously 
done,  the  skin  is  kept  tight  whilst 
it  contracts  to  one-half  of  its  size, 
taking  up  the  glue  and  increasing 
in  thickness  until  it  is  rendered  as 
thick  and  hard  as  required  (and  his 
friends  have  pleaded  long  enough 
to  make  it  arrow,  and  almost  ball, 
proof),  when  the  dance  ceases  and 
the  fire  is  put  out.  When  ll  is 
cooled  and  cut  into  the  shape  that 
he  desires,  it  is  often  painted  with 
his  medicine  or  totem  upon  it,  the 
figure  of  an  eagle,  an  owl,  a  buffalo, 
or  other  animal,  as  the  case  may  be, 
which  he  trusts  will  guard  and  pro- 
tect him  from  Jhariu.     It  is  then  fringed  with  eagles'  quills  or  other  ornaments  he 


Fig  2. 

ARAPAHOE  SHIELD. 

Cat.  No.  129871,  U.  S.  N.  M.     Dakota.     Collected  by  H.  M.  Creel. 


630 

may  have  chosen  and  slang  with  a  broad  leather  strap  that  crosses  his  hreast. 
These  shields  are  carried  hy  all  the  warriors  in  these  regions,  for  their  protection 
in  hattles,  which  are  almost  invariahly  fought  from  their  horses'  hacks* 

The  shield  was  invariably  held  on  the  left  arm,f  usually  by  a  simple 
thong  of  buckskin  attached  to  the  interior.  Wooden  handles,  believed 
to  have  belonged  to  Pima  Indian  shields,  were  found  in  a  cave  with 
war  clubs  on  Superstition  Mountain  in  Arizona,  by  Dr.  E.  Palmer. 
(Cat.  No.  7G028,  U.  S.  H".  M.) 

It  is  the  custom  of  most  tribes  to  put  one  or  more  covers  of  dressed 
buckskin  over  the  shield,  the  covers  being  decorated.!  (See.  phi  and 
fig.  2.) 

The  decoration  of  the  North  American  shield  forms  one  of  the  most 
fruitful  sources  for  the  religious  beliefs  and  practices  of  the  Indians.§ 

The  decoration  was  inspired  by  a  revelation  through  a  dream,  follow- 
ing among  the  Crows  the  terrible  initiation  ceremony  and  among  all 
tribes  following  an  ordeal.  The  protection  of  the  shield  has  largely 
become  fetichistic  and  in  many  cases  the  survival  of  this  ancient  means 
of  defense  has  been  brought  about  by  its  cult  relations. 

The  warrior  fraternities  of  the  Moki  and  Zuiii  tribes  have  an  elabo- 
rate ceremonial  of  the  shield. ||     In  the  Moki  ceremony,  held  at  the 


*  Catlin,  George,  North  American  Indians,  7th  ed.     Lond.,  1848.     Vol.  i,  p.  241. 
t  See  the  paper  hy  Mr.  Cushing  on  Manual  Concepts.,  American  Anthropologist,  v, 
1892,  p.  290. 

J  DESCRIPTION    OF    FIGURE   2   AND    PLATE    I. 

Fig.  2,  shield. — Made  of  rawhide  with  cover  of  muslin  symbolically  painted  in 
green,  yellow,  red,  and  black.  The  background  above  is  yellow  and  below  green. 
The  figures  are  on  the  yellow  portion  and  represents  two  dragon  flies,  the  sun  and 
moon,  an  owl,  and  a  circle  in  red  outlined  with  green.  Two  eagle  claws  are  fastened 
at  opposite  sides.  A  bunch  of  eagle  feathers  is  fastened  at  the  upper  edge,  and  from 
it  depends  a  flannel  band  with  rows  of  large  eagle  feathers  having  horsehair  cemented 
to  their  ends.  The  thongs  for  holding  have  disappeared;  there  remains  a  thong  for 
suspension.  Diameter  18  inches  (Cat.  No.  129871,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Arapahoe  Indians, 
Dakota.     Collected  by  H.  M.  Creel.) 

Plate  I,  shield  with  2  covers. — The  shield  proper  is  of  hardened  buffalo  hide  of  con- 
vex form,  plain  in  front  with  four  perforations  through  which  the  thong  forming  the 
handle  is  passed,  (lower  figure).  To  the  triangular  handle  are  attached  long  cow  tails, 
(figure  to  right).  The  inner  cover  is  of  buckskin,  gaudily  decorated,  and  edged 
with  a  band  of  flannel  bordered  with  eagle  feathers  and  having  a  woven  band  hang- 
ing down,  (figure to  left;  back  view  of  same,  upper  figure  to  the  right).  The  outer 
cover,  which  is  to  protect  the  inner  cover  and  the  feathers  are  also  painted  and 
whitened  with  pipeclay.  Four  charms  are  attached  to  it,  viz,  a  curl  of  cow's  tail, 
an  eagle  feather,  and  two  tufts  of  shredded  cloth  with  a  bit  of  brass  chain.  The 
covers  are  gashed  around  the  edge  and  supplied  with  a  gathering  string  for  securing 
the  cover  tightly  over  the  shield.  The  complete  shield  is  shown  in  the  upper  figure 
to  the  left.  A  third  painted  cover  for  this  shield  has  been  discovered.  Diameter  of 
shield  proper,  15  J  inches ;  of  shield  with  covers,  17^  inches.  (Cat.  No.  8443,  U.  S.  N.  M. 
Comanche  Indians,  Fort  Griffin,  Texas.     Collected  by  Dr.  H.  McElderry,  U.  S.  A.) 

§  Mr.  James  Mooney  is  preparing  a  paper  upon  this  branch  of  the  subject.  Mrs. 
Nuttall  has  treated  on  this  aspect  of  the  Mexican  shield;  loc.  cit.,  ante,  p.  1. 

II  See  Zuiii  Fetiches,  Cushing,  2d  An.  Rept.  Bu.  Ethnol.,  Pis.  x,  xi,  p.  40. 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.- Hough 


Plate  1 . 


Rawhide  Shield  with  Covers. 

Cat.  No.  8443,  U.  S.N.  M. 


'-.- 


/"! 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR.  631 

winter  solstice  by  the  warrior  societies,  the  sun  is  represented  by  a 
shield,  and  attack  and  defense  is  graphically  dramatized.  The  shields 
of  the  sun  warrior  fraternities  are  decorated  with  the  totems  of  the 
individual  societies.  A  description  of  this  ceremony  will  soon  be  pub- 
lished by  Dr.  J.  Walter  Fewkes.  t 

The  various  feathers,  hoofs  and  horns,  and  skins  of  animals,  etc., 
hung  to  shields,  are  also  personal  fetiches.^^,. 

The  distribution  of  the  shield  shows  That  most  of  the  American 
tribes  possessed  the  shield,  and  a  majority  appear  to  have  had  no  other 
weapon  of  defense.  There  is  strong  presumption,  however,  that  the 
use  of  body  and  shield  armor  was  widespread  in  America,  as  historical 
notices  show. 

Charlevoix,  writing  of  the  Iroquois,  observes  that  while  the  western 
tribes  use  bucklers  of  buffalo  hide,  "it  is  pretty  surprising  that  other 
Indian  nations  never  use  them."*  Lafitau  and  the  earlier  mission- 
aries, however,  credit  the  Iroquoian  people  with  the  shield  in  the 
following  words: 

Their  shields  were  of  ozier  or  bark  covered  with  one  or  many  pcaux  passees;  there 
are  some  made  of  very  thick  skin.     They  had  them  of  all  sizes  and  all  sorts  of  figures.! 

Some  South  American  tribes  who  use  body  armor  are  said  to  be 
unacquainted  with  the  shield.  Likewise  the  Eskimo  seem  to  be  desti- 
tute of  this  weapon. 

There  are  probably  fifty  American  shields  in  the  National  Museum, 
some  collected  as  early  as  1830.  Several  have  been  handed  down  from 
father  to  son  for  a  period  of  sixty- five  years. 

These  shields  are  from  the  tribes  of  the  western  portion  of  the  con- 
tinent and  include  the  Crows,  Sioux,  Comanches,  Kiowas,  Navajoes, 
Utes,  Apaches,  Pimas,  Zunis,  Mokis,  etc. 

/ 
II.  Body  Armor. 

The  aboriginal  armor  of  North  America  was  intended  to  protect  the 
vital  organs  and  to  allow  free  -  movement  of  the  limbs>  The  form 
assumes  that  of  a  sleeveless  jacket,  coat,  or  wide  band  going  around 
the  trunk,  suspended  from  the  shoulders.  The  selection  of  defensive 
materials  and  their  adaptation  to  defensive  covering  for  the  body  form 
an  interesting  study  in  native  invention,  while  the  evidence  in  North 
America  of  the  migration  of  inventions  awakens  no  less  interest. 
Thus  we  find  that  at  the  period  of  the  disuse  of  armor  by  the  aborig- 
ines there  were  six  types  of  body  armor  found  on  the  North  Amer- 
ican Continent  and  contiguous  regions,  viz: 
s  Plate  armor. — liows  of  overlapping  plates,  perforated  and  lashed. 
Eskimo  and  Ohukchis. 

*  Charlevoix,  F.  X.  de,  Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  North  America.     Vol.  I,  p.  338. 
Lond.,  1761. 
Jf       t  Lafitau,  loc.  cit.,  II,  p.  197. 


632  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

Slat  armor. — Wooden  slats  twined  together.  Sitkans,  Shastas> 
Iroquois,  Virginia  Indians. 

Rod  armor. — Wooden  rods  twined  together.  Aleuts,  Sitkans,  Colum 
bia  River  tribes,  Klamaths,  Hupas,  Iroquois,  Virginia  Indians,  etc. 

.  Ba?id  armor.— Bands  of  skin  arranged  in  telescoping  fashion. 
Chukchis. 

'  Skin  armor. — Coats  of  hardened  hide.      Tlingits,    Haidas,  Hupas, 
Chinooks,    Kavajoes,    Mohawks,    Snoshones,    Pawnees,    Oomanches, 
etc. 
r  Cotton-padded  armor. — Mexicans,  Isthmians,  and  Peruvians. 

Three  well-defined  areas,  including  the  above-mentioned  types  of 
North  American  body  armor,  will  be  now  considered,  viz ; 

(1)  Bering  Strait  area,  the  American  shore  of  Bering  Sea,  and  the 
islands  as  far  north  as  Gape  Prince  of  Wales,  inhabited  by  the  Eskimo, 
and  the  Asiatic-  side,  inhabited  by  the  Coast  Chukchis.  (Plate 
armor.) 

(2)  Western  area,  extending  from  Sitka  through  northern  California 
and  the  central  basin  to  Mexico.     (Slat,  rod,  and  skin  armor.) 

(3)  Eastern  area,  extending  from  southeastern  Canada  to  Virginia, 
inhabited  by  Algonkian  and  Iroquoian  tribes.  (Slat,  or  rod,  and  skin 
armor.) 

The  first  two  areas  are  known  by  actual  specimens,  while  the  third 
area  is  historical.  In  the  interior  of  the  continent,  according  to  his- 
torical notices,  several  stocks  used  armor.  There  is,  therefore,  suffi- 
cient testimony  to  show  that  if  not  universal  the  use  of  armor  was  at 
least  general  among  the  North  American  tribes. 

1.  BERING  STRAIT  AREA. 

The  National  Museum  possesses  a  number*  of  examples  of  Eskimo- 
Chukchis  plate  armor  from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  Diomede  Island,  St. 
Lawrence  Island,  Alaska,  and  Cape  Wankarem,  Siberia. 

The  most  perfect  specimens  are  from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  and  Dio- 
mede Island.     (See  pis.  '2  and  3.)  * 


*  DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATE   2. 

Fig.  1,  plate  armor. — Made  of  three  rows  of  walrus-ivory  plates,  averaging  1  ineh 
in  width  aud  6  inches  in  length.  Each  plate  contains  6  holes,  through  which  pass 
rawhide  thongs,  thus  lashing  the  plates  together.  These  plates  are  slightly  imbri- 
cated, as  are  also  the  different  rows,  so  as  to  ward  off  more  effectually  the  weapou.s 
of  the  enemy.  The  lower  row  contains  43  plates,  and  the  middle  38.  The  upper 
row  consists  of  two  sectious;  one  containing  10  plates,  protecting  the  breast,  the 
other  8  plates,  protecting  the  upper  part  of  tbe  back.  A  rawhide  strap  passes  over 
the  shoulders  and  supports  the  armor.  This  armor  very  closely  resembles  that  of 
Japan.  Length  when  spread  put,  44  inches.  (Cat.  No.  153491,  U.S.N.M.  Eskimo 
of  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  Alaska.     Collected  by  H.  R.  Thornton). 

Fig.  2,  plate  armor. — Fragment  consisting  of  9  iron  plates  similar  to  those  on 
Japanese  armor,  and  bound  with  three  lashings  of  rawhide.     This  speciman  was 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.  —  Hough. 


Plate  2. 


OF    fHfi 

UNIVERSITY       ; 


634  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

has  been  much  discussion.*  The  upper  portion  of  this  war  panoply 
(pi.  4,t  fig.  1)  is  unique. 

It  serves  as  a  shield  and  resembles  the  neck  fender  of  the  Kingsmill 
Island  armor;  designed,  without  doubt,  to  protect  the  warrior  from 
attack  in  the  rear,  a  common  occurrence  in  all  savage  warfare. 

The  whole  armor  is  very  heavy  and  clumsy.  The  method  of  wearing 
the  suit  is  shown  in  plate  5.|     Captain  Hooper  says: 

Their  war  spears  and  those  used  in  hunting  bears  are  made  of  steel,  with  a  handle 
about  6  feet  long.  The  blade  is  kept  very  sharp  and  highly  polished.  These  weapons 
are  often  beautifully  inlaid  with  brass  ornamented  figures,  and  are  purchased  from 
the  Russian  traders  at  Gazhaga.§ 

The  Chukchis  of  Plover  Bay  formerly  wore  a  cuirass  made  of  long 
strips  of  baleen,  reaching  from  the  neck  to  the  middle  of  the  thigh. 
The  thickest  baleen  was  not  selected  for  making  the  armor.  The 
strips  were  arranged  vertically,  en  echelon,  and  tied  through  perfora- 
tions on  the  edges.  Over  the  joints  were  applied  other  strips  of 
whalebone,  as  in  a  thatch  fastened  by  thongs,  passing  through  perfora- 
tions at  their  edges  and  in  the  middle  of  the  foundation  strips.  Owing 
to  the  material  and  construction  this  armor  was  somewhat  elastic. 
When  spread  out  it  was  in  shape  of  a  band  with  cuts  below  the 
armpits  and  having  suspending  straps  going  over  the  shoulders,  resem- 
bling the  Hupa  armor.  (See  pi.  15.)  The  coat  was  tied  at  the  back 
with  cords,  requiring  the  assistance  of  another  person. 

The  Chukchis  told  my  informant,  Capt.  E.  P.  Herendeen,  that  this 

*  Hewitt,  John,  Ancient  armor,  p.  270;  also  hoop  armor,  id.  p.  256. 

t  DESCRIPTION    OF   PLATE   4. 

Fig.  1,  armor. — Upper  portion  of  2437.  Made  of  sea-lion  skin  stretched  over 
plates  of  wood.  Back,  shield  shaped,  formed  of  2  vertical  pieces  of  three-eighth 
inch  board  lashed  together  with  whalebone  and  covered  with  hide,  which  extends 
continuously  over  the  wings,  being  a  very  large  skin  turned  over  and  sewed  on 
the  upper  edge.  The  wings  consist  of  4  wooden  plates  on  one  side  and  5  on  the 
other,  growing  shorter  toward  the  front  and  terminating  on  the  left  side  in  a  section 
without  wooden  lining.  The  plates  are  movable,  the  hide  being  creased  at  the  joints 
and  in  the  crease  is  laid  a  rounded  thong  which  is  held  at  intervals  by  loops  of  whale- 
bone passing  through  the  edges  of  the  plates.  On  the  back  are  two  whalebone  tog- 
gles for  attachment  to  the  lower  portion.  A  more  clumsy  contrivance  than  this  fen- 
der can  scarcely  be  imagined.  Width,  72  inches;  height,  28  inches.  (Cat.  No.  2436, 
U.S.N.M.    Chukchis,  Eastern  Siberia.    Collected  by  Commodore  John  Rogers,  U.  S.  N. 

Fig.  2,  hoop  armor. — Made  of  seven  bands  of  sea-lion  skin,  5^  inches  wide,  doubled 
and  whipped  together  at  the  edges.  These  bands  are  connected  by  heavy  thongs 
and  hang  in  an  enlarging  series,  like  an  inverted  telescope  drinking  cup,  from  a 
frame  of  whalebone  covered  with  hide.  The  free  ends  of  the  bands  overlap  in  front. 
A  square  breastplate  of  doubled  hide  protects  the  neck.  This  armor  is  the  lower 
portiomof  No.  2436.  Diameter,  36  inches;  height,  20 inches.  (Cat,  No.  2437,  U.S.N.M. 
Chukchis,  Eastern  Siberia.     Collected  by  Commodore  John  Rogers,  U.  S.N. 

{•DESCRIPTION   OF   PLATE  5. 

Chukchis  warrior  and  family. — From  an  aquarelle  made  by  W.  Alexander  in  1797, 
showing,  after  the  interpretation  of  the  artist,  the  method  of  wearing  the  armor 
figured  in  pi.  4. 

§  Cruise  of  the  Corwin,  1881,  Washington,  1884,  p.  31. 


Report  of  National  Museum,  1893.— Hough. 


Plate  3. 


W    Z       Z     W'V.N.W 

v    Wv>     v    ; 

•  /     *   1 

1«H       gfl 

ES 

«■"!" ;*■  ** — *     «  ~"«"  " 

•    k 

3:1 

**»~*      Mi 

Z!**"*  :*-~*  ^** 

...  V  *>  -«•"*•- ....*., 

m^mm^MpI 

Eskimo  Plate  Armor, 

Fig.  1.  Front  view. 
Fig.  2.  Back  view/  » 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.— Hough. 


Plate  4. 


Chukchis  Hoop  Armor. 

Fig.  l.  Upper  portion.    Cat.  No.  2486,  U.  S.  N.  31. 
Fig.  2.  Lower  portion.     Cat.  No.  2487,  IT.  S.  N.  31. 


J,  >?*r    Ef 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.— Hough. 


Plate  5. 


Chukchis  wearing  Hoop  Armor.    Plover  Bay. 

/ 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR. 


635 


armor  was  used  in  going  over  to  trade  with  the  hostile  Eskimo  of  St. 
Lawrence  Island,  which  was  dangerous  and  compelled  sleepless  caution. 
Capt.  Herendeen  also  saw  the  band  armor  (pi.  4)  among  the  Chukchis. 
Ivory  was  not  observed  by  Capt.  Herendeen,  as  that  material  is  very 
scarce  on  the  Asiatic  side;  but,  no  doubt,  the  materials  for  plate  armor 
were  procured  by  barter  with 
Eskimo.  In  any  event,  fossil 
ivory  plate  armor  was  made 
by  the  Chukchis. 

Driftwood  is  also  very  rare 
on  the  Siberian  coast,  while 
on  the  islands  and  American 
shore  it  is  abundant.  The 
quest  for  this  indispensable 
material  must  have  been  a 
strong  incentive  for  the 
Asiatic  migrants  to  cross  the 
straits. 

As  far  as  known  the  Chuk- 
chis did  not  use  either  hel- 
mets or  shields. 

Of  interest  in  comparison 
with  the  Eskimo  Chukchis 
armor  is  that  used  by  the 
Giliaks  of  Siberia.  This  is 
composed  of  plates  of  iron 
lashed  together  (fig.  3).* 

They  also  wear  an  ingeniously  constructed  conical  helmet  with  a  neck 
cover.  The  Giliak  coat  of  plaited  thongs,  figured  in  the  same  work, 
does  not  occur  in  America,  but  has  its  counterpart  in  the  cocoanut-fiber 
armor  of  the  Polynesians  and  the  plaited  armor  of  the  Malays. 

The  Kamtschadales  have  bows,  arrows,  spears,  and  a  coat  of  mail 
made  of  mats  or  plaited  thongs.t 

The  Kalmucks  have  coats  of  mail  bought  from  their  neighbors.:): 
They  use  lances. 

Descending  the  coast  toward  Japan,  which  seems  to  be  the  origin  of 
the  plate  armor  ranging  from  that  country  into  the  American  continent, 
we  notice  that  the  Colletske  make  use  of  a  leather  coat  covered  with 
plates  of  iron  about  6  inches  long  and  a  pot- shaped  helmet  of  smaller 
plates  having  neck  covers. 

*Schrenck,  L.  V.,  Reisen  mid  Forschungen  im  Amur-Lande,  1854-56.  St.  Peters- 
burg, 1891.     PL  xliv. 

Description  of  fig.  3.— Helmet  and  detail  of  armor  of  the  Giliaks  of  the  Amoor,  Siberia. 
In  the  perforations  and  arrangement  this  armor  resembles  the  armor  of  the  Eskimo. 

Drawing  from  Reisen  unci  Forschungen  im  Amur-Lande,  1854-'56,  by  Dr.  Leopold  V. 
Schren  ck .     St.  Petersburg,  1891 . 

f  Grieve,  Hist,  of  Kamtschatka,  Gloucester,  1764,  p.  202 

t  Pallas,  1,  p.  143. 


Fig.  3. 

GILIAK   HELMET   AND  BODY  ARMOR. 

AtW  Schrenck. 


636  KEPOKT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

2.  WESTERN  AREA. 

In  the  western  area  the  slat  type  of  wooden  armor  seems  to  be  cen 
tral  among  the  Koluschans  in  the  north,  while  the  rod  type  runs  south- 
ward and  is  central  among  the  Thine  of  British  Columbia. 

The  slat  armor  has  some  resemblances  to  the  Eskimo  coat,  and  might 
be  regarded  as  the  working  out  of  the  plate-armor  idea  in  a  region 
where  wood  is  abundant  and  twined  weaving  common. 

The  slat  coat  or  coat  of  slats  and  rods  combined  is  always  made  in 
two  sections,  one  for  the  front  and  the  other  for  the  back,  while  the  rod 
coat  is  in  a  single  piece. 

Plate  6*  shows  the  front  and  back  of  the  slat  coat,  and  Plates  7 
and  8*  show  the  combined  rod  and  slat  armor.  These  specimens 
are  very  old.  The  woodwork  shows  great  skill,  especially  the  inter- 
locking joinery  at  the  edges.  The  hardest  wood  procurable  was 
selected,  and  usually  sinew  cord  was  employed  to  join  the  slats. 
Plate  9,*  taken  from  Niblack  after  Lisiansky,  shows  the  parts  and 
method  of  wearing  the  slat  armor. 

*  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    PLATES   6-9. 

Plate  6,  slat  armor. — Made  of  32  slats  o£  cedar  aud  other  wood  woven  together 
by  line  weaving  of  fine  sinew  and  other  cord.  A  baud  of  weaving  of  3  inches  width 
is  carried  along  the  front  at  the  top  and  the  weaving  is  continued  downward  in  two 
places,  meeting  a  band  crossing  the  bottom  aud*  forming  a  geometrical  figure. 
The  middle  series  of  slats,  8  in  number,  extends  below  the  other  4  iuches,  3  of  which 
are  intact,  while  2  on  either  side  are  united,  forming  a  swallowtail  and  allowing  the 
free  bending  of  the  thighs. 

The  front  and  back  are  distinct,  joined  by  elk-skin  cords  at  the  sides.  A  section 
of  short  slats,  8  in  number,  is  placed  in  front  of  the  throat,  and  a  similar  row,  7  in 
number,  protects  the  back  of  the  neck.  The  armor  is  held  in  place  by  a  broad 
band  of  elk  skin  over  the  right  shoulder,  and  fastened  on  the  left  side  by  a  loop  and 
thong.  A  toggle  on  the  left  side  of  the  collar  in  front  was  probably  for  suspension 
of  the  quiver.  Height,  21£  inches;  width,  20  inches.  (Cat.  No.  9243,  U.S.N.M. 
Tlingit  Indians,  Sitka,  Alaska.     Collected  by  Dr.  A.  H.  Hoff,  U.  S.  A.) 

Plates  7  and  S,  slat  armor  (back  and  front). — Made  of  slats  and  rods  of  hard  wood 
li  to  1\  inches  wide,  five-sixteenths  inch  thick,  woven  together  by  means  of  fine 
sinew  cord  so  as  to  admit  of  considerable  flexibility.  The  rods  and  slats  are  pared 
down  to  form  channels  for  the  reception  of  the  cord  weaving.  The  front  and  back 
portions  are  woven  separately,  being  connected  by  cords  of  leather  on  the  left  side 
and  on  the  right  side  by  a  loop  and  toggle.  The  rods  on  the  border  of  the  rear  of 
armor  are  neatly  "  toed  in."  The  neck  portions  are  made  up  of  short  slats  and  sewed 
on  by  means  of  a  strip  of  rawhide  1|  inches  wide.  The  shoulder  supports  are  of 
very  thick  elk  hide,  the  one  on  the  right  being  fastened  by  a  slash  and  toggle. 
Width  of  rear  portion,  24  inches ;  height,  20  inches ;  width  of  front  portion,  18  inches ; 
height,  19  inches.  (Cat.  No.  74437,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Tlingit  Indians,  Sitka,  Alaska. 
Collected  by  J.  J.  McLean.) 

Plate  9. — Wooden  helmet  secured  to  the  head  by  straps  fastened  under  the  chin 
(figure  in  upper  left  corner) ;  wooden  mask  or  visor,  side  view,  showing  holes  for 
eyes  (middle  figure) ;  body  armor  (lower  left-hand  figure) ;  mask  or  visor,  show- 
ing buckle,  which  is  held  in  the  teeth  to  keep  the  visor  in  place  (Cat.  No.  74313, 
U.S.N.M.),  Tlingit,  (lower  right-hand  figure) ;  sketch  showing  the  method  of  wearing 
the  armor;  (upper  right-hand  corner). 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893  — Hough 


Plate  6. 


Tlingit  Slat  Armor. 

Cat.  No.  9243,  U.  S.  N.  M. 

Fig.  1 .  Front  view. 
Fig.  2.  Back  view. 


Report  of  National  Museum,  1893 — Hough 


Plate  7. 


Tlingit  Slat  and  Rod  Armor. 

Cat.  No.  74437,  U.  S.  N.  M. 
Front  view. 


Report  of  National  Museum,    1893.— Hougn 


Plate  8. 


— :*4£W 


Tlingit  Slat  and  Rod  Armor. 

Cat.  No.  74437,  U.  S.  N.  M. 
Back  view. 


Report  of  National  Museunn,  1893.— Hough. 


Plate  9. 


Tlingit  Helmets  and  Slat  Armor. 


;._ 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR.  637 

As  representative  of  the  northwestern  coast  culture  the  Tlingits  and 
Haiti* as  are  most  prominent.     Captain  Cook  noticed  that — 

They  incase  almost  the  entire  body  in  a  wooden  or  leathern  armor..  They  make  a 
breast  plate  of  wood  and  an  arrow-proof  coat  of  thin  flexible  strips  bound  with 
strings  like  a  woman's  stays.     They  wear  helmets  with  curiously  carved  visors.  * 

A  kind  of  jacket,  or  coat  of  mail,  made  of  thin  laths  bound  together  with  sinews 
which  makes  it  quite  flexible,  though  so  close  as  not  to  admit  an  arrow  or  dart.t 

It  seems,  therefore,  necessary  to  treat  the  Northwest  Coast  as  one  cul-  Y 
ture  area,  where  the  arts  of  the  ethnic  units  can  scarcely  be  ditteren- 
tiated.     A  close  study  as  marked  out  by  Niblack  and  shown  in  the  care- 
ful collections  of  Lieut.  Gr.  T.  Emmons,  TJ.  S.  Navy,  may  disentangle 
the  borrowings  of  the  stocks  of  this  area. 

There  are  4  suits  of  this  type  in  the  Museo  Arqueologico  in  Madrid. 
They  were  collected  by  the  Malespina  Expedition  of  1791.  The  exact 
locality  is  not  stated  and  an  account  of  Malespina's  exploration  was 
not  published,  as  far  as  I  can  learn. 

If  one  may  judge  by  the  Spanish  names  which  have  remained  on  the 
map,  such  as  Malespina  Island,  CapeMuzon,  Cordova  Bay,  and  others, 
the  Malespina  Expedition  explored  the  north  side  of  Dixon  Entrance 
and  came  in  contact  with  the  Haidas  as  well  n  s  the  Tlingits.  Although 
there  is  some  probability  of  these  armors  being  Haidan,  I  incline  to 
believe  them  to  beTlingit. 

During  the  course  of  this  study,  one  piece  of  armor  of  unknown 
function  in  the  National  collection  was  found  to  be  a  greave,  or  armor 
for  the  lower  leg  (pi.  10). f  This  unique  piece  discloses  the  hitherto 
unnoticed  fact  that  the  Northwest  Coast  warriors  were  more  completely 
armed  than  had  been  imagined.  This  greave  leads  to  the  inference 
that  a  similar  protection  was  extended  to  the  upper  legs  and  the  arms. 
With  heavy  wooden  helmet,  the  slat  coat  and  armor  for  the  kmbs,  we 
have  a  picture  of  an  Alaskan  warrior  armed  cap-a-pie.  In  no  way  was 
this  armor  inferior  to  that  employed  in  ancient  or  feudal  times  or  at  a 
late  period  among  the  Japanese.  The  resemblance  of  the  specimen  in 
question  to  the  Japanese  greave  is  striking. 

It  is  made  up  of  12  slightly  tapering  hard  wood  slats  and  8  rods 
woven  together  with  sinew  cord.  The  portion  not  covered  with 
weaving  bears  a  totemic  painting.      When   curved  around  the  leg, 


*  Bancroft,  op.  cit.  1,  p.  105. 

tCook,  Capt.  James,  Third  Voyage,  Vol.  n,  p.  372. 

t  Description  of  Plate  10. — Greave  made  up  of  12  slightly  tapering  hardwood  slate 
and  8  rods  woven  together  with  twisted  sinew  cord.  The  weaving  is  diversified  in 
the  central  portion  by  carrying  the  threads  in  pairs  alternately  over  the  rods.  The 
portion  not  covered  with  weaving  bears  a  totemic  painting.  When  the  greave  is 
curved  around  the  calf  of  the  leg,  the  hollowed  out  portions,  which  are  also  beveled, 
accommodate  the  instep  and  knee  joint.  Tied  at  the  front  with  thongs.  The  holes 
along  the  upper  edge  are  probably  for  attaching  the  greave  to  the  armor  for  the 
upper  leg.  Length,  15  inches ;  width  of  upper  edge,  \1\  inches ;  width  of  lower  edge, 
16±  inches.  (Cat.  No.  74438,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Tlingit  Indians,  Alaska.  Collected  by  J.  J. 
McLean. 


<.♦ 


638  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

the  hollowed  o  it  portions  accommodate  the  instep  and  knee  joint.  It 
was  secured  by  thongs  and  probably  with  a  band  or  garter.  The  holes 
along  the  upper  edge  are  probably  for  attaching  the  greave  to  the 
cuissard. 

Charlevoix,  in  speaking  of  the  Iroquois,  says : 

They  had  even  formerly  a  kind  of  mail  for  the  arms  and  thighs  made  of  the  same 
material,*  *.  e.,  small  pliahle  sticks  pretty  well  wrought. t 

The  resemblance  between  the  culture  of  the  west  and  east  coasts  of 
North  America  is  striking  in  other  instances. 

/"(Many  of  the  figures  in  the  Mexican  codices  and  sculptures  wear  a 
covering  around  the  calf  of  the  leg,  which  may  be  the  greave.  In  the 
sculptures  from  Yucatan  this  greave  or  legging  seems  to  be  of  horizontal 
bands  and  square  plates. 

The  rod  type  of  armor  of  the  western  area  is  well  represented  by 
specimens  in  the  National  Museum.  All  the  examples  extant  range 
from  Sitka  to  northern  California  in  a  region  comparatively  lately 
exxdored. 

The  rod  and  slat  types  are  mixed;  in  the  method  of  twining  together 
the  elements  they  are  identical.  In  some  localities  the  broad  band  of 
rods  is  alone  found,  while  among  the  Tlingits,  or  around  Sitka,  occur 
rod  armor,  slat  armor,  and  a  combination  of  both  types  in  the  same 
piece,  as  well  as  skin  armor. 

In  form  the  Aleut  armor,  instead  of  following  the  Eskimo  type, 
belongs  with  the  rod  type  of  the  Indians.  The  perforation  of  the 
rods,  however,  and  the  method  of  lashing,  show  Eskimo  handiwork. 
D'Orbigny  says:  "Les  armes  defensives  consistaient  en  une  cotte  de 
joncs  tresses  qui  leur  couvrait  tout  le  corps."  % 

Dr.  W.  H.  Dall,  during  his  exploration  of  the  caves  of  the  Aleutian 
Islands, 'found  the  armor  figured  in  pis.  11  and  12.§     "  Under  the 

*  Charlevoix,  F.  X.  de.  Vol.  I,  p.  338,  Lond.,  1761. 

t  Id.,  Letters  to  the  Duchess  of  Lesdiguieres,  p.  143,  Lond.,  1763. 

|  D'Orbigny,  Voyages,  p.  579. 

§  DESCRIPTION   OF   PLATES    11   AND    12. 

Plate  11,  rod  armor. — Made  up  of  two  series  of  cedar  rods,  one-half  inch  in  diame- 
ter and  different  lengths,  painted  red.  The  lower  series  containing  68  rods;  the 
upper  series,  two  side  sections  of  10  rods  and  a  curved  piece  each,  aud  a  central  sec- 
tion containing  22  rods  with  curved  side  pieces.  The  rods  are  perforated  through 
either  end  and  held  in  series  by  a  sewing  of  finely  plaited  sinew  cord,  the  cord  being 
brought  through  the  hole  in  the  first  rod,  leaving  two  long  ends.  These  are  brought 
past  each  other  from  opposite  sides  through  the  hole  in  the  next  rod,  and  so  forth. 
The  sections  are  joined  by  a  rickrack  lashing,  engaging  with  the  horizontal  sewing. 
The  rods  are  perforated  from  side  to  side  and  a  thin  rod  of  whalebone  drawn 
through,  rendering  the  armor  flexible.  At  the  lower  and  upper  edges  of  the  armor 
the  ends  of  the  rods  are  chamfered.     There  are  two  wooden  toggles  on  the  right  side. 

Plate  12,  rod  armor. — Same  coat  as  shown  in  pi.  11,  doubled  together,  showing  the 
position  upon  the  body  in  wearing  the  armor.  This  view  shows  also  a  portion  of 
the  inner  side  and  the  projecting  ends  of  the  whalebone  binding  strip  which  has 
been  broken.  Width,  40  inches;  height,  25  inches.  (Cat.  No.  17249,  U.S.N.M. 
From  a  burial  cave  in  the  Island  of  Amaknak.     Collected  by  E.  Hennig.) 


port  of  National  Museum,   1893.  —  Hougn. 


Plate  10. 


) 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893  —Hough. 


Plate  11 


Prehistoric  Aleutian  Rod  Armor. 

Cat.  No.  17249,  U.  S.  N.  M. 


S3 


rl 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.— Hough. 


Plate  12. 


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' 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR. 


639 


iiet  was  inserted  a  piece  of  wooden  body  armor  (17249)  composed  of 
small,  round  rods  of  proper  size,  united  by  sinew  cords  and  with,  nicely 
carved  wooden  pieces  about  the  armholes.  This  is  the  only  j)iece  of 
this  aboriginal  armor  known  to  be  in  existence.  It  was  fastened  behind 
with  two  loops  of  sinew,  into  which  wooden  buttons  were  inserted.  The 
small  rods  of  which  it  is  composed  were  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch 
in  diameter,  painted  red. 

u  The  armor,  slight  as  it  was,  must  have  been  a  tolerably  good  pro- 
tection against  the  bone  and  stone  arrowheads  of  the  natives."* 

In  the  northern  portion  of  this  area,  except  in  the  Aleutian  Islands, 


Fig-  4. 

SHOWING  DETAIL  OF  WEAVING  ROD  AND   SLAT  ARMOR   OF  THE  NORTHWEST   COAST. 


the  rod  armor  is  an  oblong  band  composed  of  peeled  rods  of  uniform 
length  and  diameter  held  in  series  by  bands  of  weaving  (pi.  13).t 
Lieut.  Mblack  says,  in  describing  this  armor,  that — 

The  threads  are  sometimes  single  and  sometimes  in  pairs,  and  are  made  to  pass 
over  and  under  the  rods  in  pairs,  hut  in  such  manner  that  the  overlappings  alter- 
nate from  one  row  to  the  next.     This  is  shown  in  detail  in  fig.  4,  where  la  and 

"Ball,  W.  H.,  Remains  of  Later  Prehistoric  Man  in  the  Caves  of  the  Aleutian 
Islands,  p.  18,  Smithsonian  Contrib.  to  Knowledge,  No.  318. 

t  DESCRIPTION   OF   PLATE    13. 

Bod  armor. — Composed  of  72  peeled  rods  of  uniform  length  and  diameter,  held  in 
vertical  series  hy  alternate  hands  of  weaving  of  woolen  and  sinew  cord.  The  rods 
are  bunched  in  the  middle  of  the  band.  The  ends  of  the  rods  are  neatly  hollowed 
out,  forming  cup  cavities,  and  there  are  4  equidistant  vertical  bands  of  red  paiut. 
This  baud  was  probably  worn  with  a  skin  coat,  both  specimens  having  been  secured 
from  the  same  native.  There  appears  to  be  no  device  to  prevent  the  rod  band  slip- 
ping down.  Width,  30  inches ;  height,  23^  inches.  (Cat.  No.  168158,  U.S.N.M.  Taku 
Indians.,  southeastern  Alaska.     Collected  by  Herbert  G.  Ogden.) 


640 

lb  represent  the  part  of  one  cord,  and  2a  and  26  represent  those  of  another.  The 
view  represents  the  upper  left-hand  corner  of  the  weaving  and  two  upper  threads, 
showing  7  rods  in  both  plan  and  section.  As  stated,  this  method  of  running  the 
cords  or  twine  is  varied  by  occasionally  running  them  in  pairs.  * 

Bands  of  rods  of  this  character  are  intended  to  be  worn  under  or 
over  the  skin  armor,  encircling  the  body  below  the  armpits,  and  there 
are  no  shoulder  straps  to  prevent  the  armor  slipping  down  over  the  hips. 

To  the  southward  the  rod  band  assumes  a  more  effective  form.  It  is 
cut  out  for  the  arms  and  has  shoulder  straps.  Just  where  this  form 
begins  it  is  not  possible  to  say  with  exactness,  probably  with  the 
Tinne.  The  specimens  are  from  the  Shastas,  Hupas,  and  Klamaths  of 
Oregon  and  California  (pis.  14  and  15). f 

The  following  references  may  be  of  interest: 

Western  Tinne:  '-While  on  the  warpath  they  also  wore  a  kind  of 
armor  or  cuirass  consisting  of  dried  sticks  of  the  same  kind  of  wood, 
Amelanchler  ahiifolia,  arranged  in  parallel  order  and  kept  together 
with  babiche  lines  interlaced  in  several  places.! 

The  Chinooks  wear  "a  kind  of  vest,  made  of  small  round  sticks  of 
the  size  and  shape  of  arrows  12  inches  long;  they  are  laid  side  by  side, 
and  then  sewed  together  and  fixed  on  the  body  like  a  waistcoat."§ 

*  The  Indians  of  the  Northwest  Coast,  Niblack,  A.  P.  Report  of  Smithsonian  Inst., 
Part  n,  1888,  p.  269. 

t  DESCRIPTION   OF    PLATES    14   AND    15. 

Plate  14,  rod  armor. — Made  of  74  strips  of  wood  formed  by  splitting  branches, 
woven  with  native  cord  of  wild  hemp.  The  checkered  portion  in  black  is  woven 
with  cord  made  of  human  hair.  Short  rods  are  worked  in  below  the  armpits.  All 
the  rods  are  split  at  either  end,  the  finishing  cords  drawn  into  the  split  to  secure 
the  weaving.  In  addition  the  armor  is  bound  on  the  upper  and  lower  edges  with 
skin  sewed  with  sinew.  The  shoulder  straps  are  of  otter  ( ?)  fur.  The  surface  of  the 
armor  shows  4  horizontal  bands  of  red  paint.  Width,  38  inches;  height,  30  inches. 
(Cat.  No.  2928,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Shasta  Indians,  northern  California  and  Oregon.  Col- 
lected by  Lieut.  G.  T.  Emmons,  U.  S.  N.) 

Plate  15,  fig.  1,  rod  armor  (Khiig-klicyst-e-cue-it-wul). — Made  of  118  peeled  rods, 
woven  together  with  native  twine,  bound  with  buckskin  on  upper  and  lower  edges 
and  armholes.  Shoulder  straps  of  leather ;  6  horizontal  stripes  of  red  cord  cross 
the  front  of  the  coat.  "It  is  tied  across  the  breast  from  left  to  right.  The  red  lines 
denote  the  number  of  enemies  slain  or  captives  taken;  also  the  rank  of  the  wearer. 
This  class  of  armor  was  in  common  use  among  the  Natanos  and  Kennucks  before  the 
introduction  of  firearms,  but  it  is  now  obsolete,  nearly.  This  is  the  only  complete 
suit  that  Lieut.  Ray  could  obtain."  (The  Ray  Collection,  Smithson.  Rept.,  1886, 
1,  p.  230.)  Width,  41  inches ;  height,  21  inches.  (Cat.  No.  126909,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Huap 
Indians,  California.     Collected  by  Capt.  P.  H.  Ray,  U.  S.  A.) 

Plate  15,  fig.  2,  rod  armor  (Tal-luck). — Modern.  Made  up  of  44  oval  rods  of  pin^ 
wood.  The  cord  is  of  native  hemp  and  cords  made  from  sisal,  the  latter  probably 
derived  from  ropes.  The  weaving  is  diversified  by  using  cords  colored  red  and  yel- 
low; bound  with  buckskin  painted  red;  shoulder  straps  of  buckskin;  tying  straps 
at  the  sides.  Width,  38  inches ;  height,  21  inches.  (Cat.  No.  2094,  U.  S.  N.  M.  Kla- 
math Indians,  Oregon.     Collected  by  L.  S.  Dyar.) 

IMorice,  A.  G.,  the  Western  Dene's.     Proc.  Canad.  Inst.,  Vol.  XXV,  1889,  p.  140. 

§  Ross,  Alexander,  adventures,  etc.,  on  the  Oregon  and  Columbia  rivers,  Lond., 
1849,  p.  89. 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.— Hough. 


Plate  13. 


o  ^ 

2  CO 

^  1 

*  0 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893. — Hough. 


Plate  14. 


Shasta  Rod  Coat. 
Cat.  No.  2928,  U.  S.  N.  M. 


I 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893  —Hough. 


Plate  15. 


-jf 


Rod  Coats. 

Fig.  1.  Hupa  rud  armor.     Cat.  No.  126909,  U.  S.  N  M 
Fig.  2.  Klamath  rod  armor.     Cat.  No.  2094,  U.  S.  N.  M. 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN   ARMOR.  641 

Among  the  Hupas  "  there  is  another  kind  of  armor  made  of  wattles 
and  twine,  woven  and  bound  with  buckskin.  This  is  worn  in  battle 
to  protect  the  body ;  it  is  tied  across  the  breast  from  left  to  right.  The 
red  lines  denote  the  number  of  enemies  slain  or  captives  taken ;  also 
the  rank  of  the  wearer.  This  class  of  armor  was  in  common  use  among 
the  ^Natano  and  Kenuck  Indians  before  the  introduction  of  firearms, 
but  it  is  now  nearly  obsolete."* 

The  rod  coats  were  put  on  like  a  vest  and  were  tied  in  front.     The 
rear  portion,  being  a  little  longer,  protected  the  back  of  the  neck. 
c-    On  the  western  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  on  the  Great  Plains 
the  natural  defensive  protection  of  the  great  land  and  sea  mammals, 
transferred  by  man  to  his  own  body,  becomes,  in  turn,  his  efficient  armor. 

The  skins  of  the  elk  and  moose  on  the  northwest  coast  and  the  bison 
in  the  interior  to  the  south  furnish  excellent  material  for  defensive 
clothing.  These  skins  are  invariably  tanned  to  render  them  flexible, 
and  are  often  coated  Avith  glue  and  sand  over  certain  portions. 

Father  Morice,  in  his  clear  description  of  the  process,  says : 

Another  sort  of  armor,  indigenous  to  the  Dene  nation,  was  th,e  peoesta  (wherein 
one  sits).  This  had  the  form  of -a  sleeveless-  tunic  falling  to  the  knees,  so  that  it* 
afforded  protection  to  the  whole  body  save  the  head— iu^  hard  fights  the  Dene's  invari- 
ably shot  kneeling.  The  armor  or  cuirass  was  of  moose  skin,  which,  when  sewed 
according  to  the  proper  pattern,  was  soaked  in  water,  then  repeatedly  rubbed  on  the 
sandy  shores  of  a  stream  orMkeand  dried  with  the  sand  and  small  pebbles  adhering 
thereto,  after  which  it  was  thoroughly  coated  with  a  species  of  very  tenacious  glue, 
the  principal  ingredient  of  which  was  boiled  isinglass,  obtained  from  the  sturgeon. 
Being  again,  before  drying,  subjected  to  a  thorough  rubbing  over  sand,  itreceiveda 
new  coating  of  the  aforesaid  glue.  When  this  process  had  been  repeated  three  or  four 
times,  it  formed  an  armor  perfectly  invulnerable  to  arrows  over  the  parts  which  were 
thus  protected,  t 

The  skin  coats  were  always  made  in  one  piece  folded  over,  sewed  above 
the  shoulders,  leaving  an  orifice  for  the  head  and  with  a  hole  cutout  of  the 
left  side  for  the  left  arm,  the  right  side  of  the  garment  remaining  open. 
The  skin  was  often  doubled,  but  more  frequently  the  coat  was  reinforced 
with  pieces  of  thick  hide.  '*  Sometimes  shoulder  guards  were  added. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  leather  coats  from  Sitka  are  short  and  follow 
the  type  of  slat  armor.  This  will  be  noticed  in  the  '-swallowtail"  for 
the  protection  of  the  pubic  region,  or  which  assumes  this  shape  by  the 
cutting  away  of  portions  of  the  skirt  over  the  groins  (pis.  16  and  17).  f 

Sometimes  a  slash  was  made  over'the  thigh  and  in  front  of  the  throat. 

*  Mason,  O.  T.,  The  Ray  Collection,  Rep.  Smithsonian  Institution,  1886,  p.  230. 

t  Morice,  A.  G.,  The  Western  Denes,  Proc.  Canad.  Inst.,  Vol.  xxv  (Oct.,  1889),  p.  140. 

X  DESCRIPTION    OF   PLATES   16   AND    17. 

Plate  16,  Fig  1,  skin  armor. — Made  of  two  thicknesses  of  caribou  hide,  scarfed 
rregularly  to  secure  flexibility.  Sewed  around  the  border  with  rawhide.  Padded 
in  the  truncated  portion  with  heavy  pieces  of  hide.  The  garment  has  been  patched 
at  the  edges  eaten  away  by  rats.  Formerly  worn  as  an  undergarment  for  protection 
against  daggers,  spears,  and  arrows.  Outside  was  worn  a  rod  band  as  a  further  pro- 
tection. This  specimen  is  very  ancient  and  primitive,  worn  before  the  introduction. 
H.  Mis.  184,  pt.  2 41 


642  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

The  shoulder  guards  were  worked  out  of  the  hide  at  the  left  arm- 
hole,  or  added  over  one  or  both  shoulders.  On  the  front  are  one  or  two 
loops  of  buckskin,  probably  for  the  attachment  of  the  bow  and  quiver 
or  dagger. 

On  the  right  side  the  armor  was  usually  fringed,  and  in  some  cases 
a  band  of  lighter  skin  was  sewed  along  the  same  side.  This  band  was 
often  decorated. 

To  the  southward  the  coat  seems  to  become  longer  and  simpler  in 
outline  (pis.  18,  19).  * 

of  fire  arms.  Width,  2  L  inches;  length,  28  inches.  (Cat.  No.  130587,  U.S.N.  M.  Tlingit 
Indians,  Alaska.     Lent  by  Max  B.  Richardson.) 

Fig  2,  skin  armor. — Made  of  tanned  hide;  two  thicknesses;  sewed  along  the  upper 
edge.  The  " swallowtail"  portion  is  reinforced  with  two  extra  thicknesses,  making 
four  in  all.  The  coat  is  very  heavy.  The  sewing  is  done  with  sinew.  Width,  25 
inches;  height,  33  inches.  (Cat.  No.  60239,  U.S.N.M.  Tlingit  Indians,  Alaska.  Col- 
lected by  J.  J.  McLean.) 

Plate  17,  skin  armor. — Made  of  one  piece  of  heavy  elk  skin  apparently  smoke- 
tanned,  lined  inside  with  another  piece  sewed  around  the  lower  portion.  Ample 
cuts  for  arm  holes.  Over  the  left  shoulder  is  fastened  an  epaaliere,  made  of  a  heavy 
piece  of  folded  hide.  For  convenience  in  putting  on  or  oif  the  armor,  the  band  over 
the  right  shoulder  is  buttoned  over  a  wooden  toggle.  Fastened  with  thongs  on  the 
right  side.  Two  loops  in  front  are  probably  for  the  bow.  Width,  20£  inches ;  height, 
29  inches.  (Cat.  No.  60240,  U.S.N.M.  Tlingit  Indians,  Alaska.  Collected  by  J.  J. 
McLean.) 

*  DESCRIPTION    OF   PLATES   18   ANI>    19. 

Plate  IS,  Fig.  1,  skin  armor. — Front  view.  Made  of  very  heavy  hide,  with  cor- 
rugated appearance,  single  thickness.  A  strip  of  lighter  leather,  cut  from  a 
painted  garment,  has  been  sewed  to  the  left  side.  A  double  shoulder  protector  has 
been  sewed  to  the  left  side  of  the  neck  opening,  and  the  skin  has  been  cut  aud 
enlarged  by  gussets  to  protect  the-right  shoulder.  A  slit  cut  in  the  skirt  of  the  coat 
admits  of  free  movement  of  the  knee.  The  fringe  is  wrapped  with  strips  of  grass, 
tied,  by  thongs,  on  the  left  side. 

Fig.  2,  skin  armor. — Rear  view  of  armor.  Curiously,  this  armor  must  have  been 
worn  by  a  left-handed  man,  as  it  is  put  on  in  the  reverse  of  the  other  coats  described. 
Width,  30  inches ;  height,  37|  inches.  (Cat.  No.  130588,  U.S.N.M.  Alaska.  Lent  by 
Max  B.  Kichardson.) 

Plate  19.  Fig.  1,  skin  armor. — Made  of  tanned  caribou  skin  folded  in  the  usual  way 
and  reinforced.  Fringed  on  the  right  side.  The  coat  is  longer  than  those  worn  to  the 
North.  The  leather  has  apparently  been  stiffened  with  glue.  The  feature  of  this 
coat  is  that  two  very  heavy  pieces  of  hide  go  over  the  shoulders  and  form  a  slit  in 
front  of  the  neck.  The  buckskiu  loops  in  front  are  for  the  attachment  of  the  quiver. 
Width,  32  inches;  height,  37  inches.  (Cat.  No.  46164,  U.S.N.M.  Chilcat  Indians, 
Alaska.     Collected  by  Dr.  T.  H.  Bean.) 

Fig.  2,  skin  armor. — Made  of  thick  tanned  elk  or  moose  skin  folded  twice  into 
oblong  form  like  a  sheet  of  note  paper.  Sewed  over  the  shoulders  and  strengthened 
inside  by  hinge  pieces.  Open  along  right  side  the  edges  cut  into  coarse  fringe.  A 
short  slit  down  left  side  below  the  shoulder  leaves  a  passage  for  the  left  arm. 
About  midway  near  the  right  side  is  fastened  a  wooden  toggle,  by  which,  probably, 
was  suspended  the  dagger.  The  front  of  the  coat  is  discolored  and  dented  as  though 
an  attempt  had  been  made  to  render  the  leather  more  dense  by  hammering.  The 
leather  has  perhaps  also  been  treated  with  glue,  as  described  by  Father  Morice  among 
the  Tinne\  Inside  the  armor  at  the  back  is  a  finely  drawn  and  painted  totem  i 
circle  10£  inches  in  diameter.  Width,  26  inches ;  height,  36  inches.  (Cat.  No.  168 
U.S.N.M.     Taku  Indians,  Southeastern  Alaska.     Collected  by  Herbert  G.  Ogd<4L 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893.  — Hough. 


Plate  16. 


^^ 

* 

0/~ 

"   'N?' 

Report  of  National  Museum     1893   —Hough 


Plate  17. 


Alaskan  Skin  Armor  with  Shoulder  Guards. 
Cat.  No.  60240,  U.  S.  N.  M. 


^ 


. 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893. — Hough. 


Plate  18. 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1893. — Hough. 


Plate  19. 


-v^toto&ji 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN   ARMOR. 


The  long  coat  culminates  among  the  Hupas  and  Klamaths,  althoiIgh/Y 
some  Alaskan  tribes  wore  long  coats  identical  with  the  ceremonial 
coats  (pi.  20).*     jf3>  . 

Two  modern  armors  from  Sitka,  in  form  of  a  waistcoat,  are  curious. 
Both  open  in  front  and  are  fastened  by  lappets  and  brass  buttons  of 
English  manufacture.  One  is  plated  over  the  entire  front  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  back  with  Chinese  coins,  like  the  penny  armor  of  Europe; 
the  other  is  plain.  The  derivation  of  these  coins  is  not  known,  but  the 
collector  supposes  the  work  to  be  that  of  Chukchis.  These  are  cur- 
rent Chinese  coins  like  those  brought  to  this  country  by  the  Chinese 
to  be  used  in  gambling.  There  are  a  few  Japanese  coins  on  this  coat. 
The  armor  was  collected  in  1870  (pi.  21).  t„ 

Decoration  of  the  war  armor  was  infrequent.  The  fringe  has  been 
mentioned.  Applied  bands  of  quill  work  on  leather  fringe  have  been 
observed.  The  slat  armor  often  bore  totemic  devices,  and  the  rod 
armor  was  diversified  by  bands  of  weaving  of  different  colored  cords 
or  by  painted  bands.  In  the  interior  of  two  coats  from  southern 
Alaska  (Takus  and  Tlingits)  are  elaborate  colored  totemic  paintings. 
Since  the  painting  is  not  seen,  it  can  not  be  for  ornament.  Perhaps  it 
is  a  fetichistic  protection. 

Two  very  heavy,  long,  wide  skin  coats  from  the  Northwest  Coast  in 

*  DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATE   20. 

Skin  armor  (Cue  it  wul). — Made  of  a  large  elk  skin,  tanned,  folded  on  itself.  The 
outer  portion  falls  as  a  skirt  to  the  ankles,  while  the  inner  portion  reaches  only  to 
the  knees,  and  the  hard  neck  portion  of  the  hide  comes  in  front  and  acts  as  a  plastron 
to  protect  the  belly  and  thighs.  Joined  over  the  shoulders  by  leather  straps  worked 
through  a  series  of  slashes.  Zigzag  cut  for  the  left  arm.  Fringed  at  the  side  and 
tying  thongs  on  the  right.  The  front  and  back  decorated  with  cusps,  dots,  circles, 
and  lines  in  red  and  blue  paint.  It  is  worn  so  as  to  cover  the  left  side,  with  the 
left  arm  through  the  slit,  the  head  through  the  opening.  The  suit  has  been  worn 
by  several  generations  and  in  some  of  the  modern  battles  with  the  whites,  in  which 
the  bullet  marks  were  received.  There  are  also  arrow  cuts  which  were  received  in 
battle.  The  cusps  and  triangular  figures  are  intended  to  denote  the  number  of  ene- 
mies slain  and  captives  taken.  (See-  "The  Ray  Collection,"  Report  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution,  1886,  1,  p.  205.)  Width,  26  inches;  height,  47  inches  (Cat.  No. 
126908,  U.S.N.M.     Hupa  Indians,  California.     Collected  by  Capt.  P.  H.  Ray,  U.  S.  A.; 

t  DESCRIPTION    OF    PLATE   21. 

Fig.  1,  skin  armor. — Made  of  three  layers  of  tanned  hide,  hardened.  Two  layers 
are  formed  by  folding  and  the  third  is  inserted  between  them.  In  general  shape  it 
is  that  of  a  waistcoat,  with  collar  sewed  on  with  thongs,  but  not  formed  of  pieces 
like  the  similar  armor.  Fastened  in  front  with  4  lappets  and  sailors'  buttons  of 
brass.  On  the  riglit  side  is  a  loop  of  buckskin,  probably  for  the  dagger.  Height, 
23  inches.     (Cat.  No.  18927,  U.S.N.M,     Sitka,  Alaska.     Collected  by  James  G.  Swan.) 

Fig.  2,  skin  armor. — Made  of  thick  tanned  hide  in  imitation  of  an  old-fashioned 
waistcoat,  the  resemblance  being  exact  in  particulars  of  cut  and  sewing.  Plated 
over  the  front  and  shoulder  of  the  back  with  Chinese  coins  sewed  on  with  sinew 
cord.  Four  lappets  for  fastening  in  front  with  brass  buttons  of  English  manufac- 
ture. Dr.  Hoff  believes  this  coat  to  be  the  work  of  Chukchis.  Height,  25£  inches. 
(Cat.  No.  9284,  U.S.N.M.     Sitka,  Alaska.     Collected  by  Dr.  A.  H.  Hoff,  U.  S.  A.) 


644 


REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 


the  national  collection  are  of  problematic  purpose.  They  were  sent  in 
as  armor  by  the  collector,  and  from  the  thickness,  weight,  and  other 
points  are  evidently  defensive.  There  is,  however,  no  armhole  on  the 
left  side  nor  projection  for  the  shoulder.     In  one  suit  the  neck  opening 

is  large  and  is  surrounded  with  a 
leather- covered  collar  made  of  short 
wooden  slats,  slightly  interlocking, 
held  together  with  a  cord  twining. 
In  the  other  suit  the  collar  is  of 
hide  (pi.  22).* 

If  these  objects  are  defensive  they 
could  scarcely  be  used  by  a  man  on 
all  fours  for  stalking,  as  they  are 
too  wide  and  long,  and  the  arms 
would  be  completely  hampered. 
They  would  be  most  useful  as  armor 
for  some  animal.  While  one  tribe-at 
least  (the  Shoshones  of  the  Upper 
Missouri)  is  known  to  have  protected 
their  horses  with  arm  or,  f  the  North- 
west Coast  tribes  did  not  have 
horses.  A  further  suggestion  is 
that  they  were  ceremonial. 

These  objects  are  noticed  here 
with  the  view  of  ascertaining  their 
function. 

Padded  armor,  which  was  used 
in  Mexico  and  Central  America,  is 
the  remaining  type.  No  specimens 
of  Mexican  padded  armor  are  extant. 
In  some  of  the  sculptures  quilted 
armor  is  perhaps  represented  by  a 
groundwork  of  small  squares.  A 
search  of  the  codices  and  an  examina- 
tion of  the  sculptures  will  doubtless  throw  much  light  upon  this  subject. 


Fig.   5. 

ANCIENT  KOREAN  COTTON  ARMOR. 


Cat.  No.  128344.  U.S.W.M.     Korea.     Deposited  by 
Dr.  G.  Brown  Goode. 


*  DESCRIPTION    OF   PLATE   22. 

Fig  1,  slin  robe.— Of  hide,  roughly  curried  in  tanning.  The  collar  is  a  slight  cut 
on  the  left  side  which  does  not  penetrate  the  inner  fold.  A  painted,  fringed  hand 
lias  heen  neatly  sewn  to  the  right  side.  On  the  inside  is  an  elaborate  totemic  paint- 
ing.    Length,  52  inches;  width,  36  inches.     Northwest  coast. 

Fig  2,  skin  robe.— Made  of  a  largo  tanned  elk,  or  caribou,  hide,  doubled,  the  short 
fold  being  inside.  A  collar  composed  of  short  interlocking  slats,  of  wood,  woven 
together  with  cord  in  the  manner  of  the  slat  armor  and  covered  with  leather,  is 
sewed  to  the  neck.  Fringed  at  the  sides.  Four  bands  of  fringed  buckskin  decorated 
with  colored  grass  are  sewed  on  one  side.  Length,  54  inches;  width,  32  inches. 
(Cat.  No.  74440,  U.S.N.M.     Alaska.     Collected  by  J.  J.  McLean.) 

t  See  page  646. 


Report  of  National  Museum.   1893  —Hough. 


Plate  20. 


Hupa  Elk-skin  Armor. 

Cat.  No.  126908,  U.  S.  N.  M. 


Report  of  National  Museum,   1  893.  — Hough. 


Plate  21, 


j*m 

JMPL 

/•'.'  •;..-•-'  'V  '  /'  -y     '     > 

1 

'                             ,-.-.. 

ft 

J           .'                                          ......       ,;:: 

Kr'"~>- 

=4          .* 

iiJplMII^I 

•;-.'  • 

V   \ 

r?.f^v-r,  ■-'■' '.:/'^:''\. 

^    ^.     ^ 

*■> 

piH@mi 

^^H^mi^ 

Report  of  National  Museum.   1893.— Hough. 


Plate  22. 


y  £1  I  ▼  *a  * 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR.  645 

Padded  armor  has  been  of  widespread  adoption.  In  Mongolian 
countries  it  survived  to  a  recent  date.  The  Korean  armor  (fig.  5#) 
will  give  an  idea  of  this  type. 

Prescott  says,  in  reference  to  the  Peruvian  armor : 

Men's  bodies  were  protected  by  casques  made  eitber  of  wood  or  tbe  skins  of  wild 
animals,  and  sometimes  ricbly  decorated  with  metal  and  with  precious  stones  sur- 
mounted by  the  brilliant  plumage  of  the  tropical  birds.  *  *  *  Men's  defensive 
armor  consisted  of  a  shield,  or  buckler,  and  a  close  tunic  of  quilted  cotton,  in  the 
same  manner  as  with  the  Mexicans. t 

Probably  not  very  different  from  the  cuirass  of  hide  of  the  northern 
tribes. 

Hansard  tells  us  the  Spaniards  invented  felt  covering  for  their  horses 
as  a  protection  against  Floridan  arrows,  j:    He  also  states  that — 

The  Spaniards,  who  fight  on  horseback  with  the  Indians  of  those  provinces,  carry 
a  doublet  well  lined  with  cotton  wool.  § 

It  may  be  surmised   that  the  Spaniards  introduced  this  style  of 
armor  both  into  Mexico  and  Peru. 
Dr.  Brin ton,  in  his  "  American  Pace,"  says  of  the  Tarascos  of  Michoacan : 

Nowhere  else  do  we  find  such  complete  defensive  armor.  It  consisted  of  helmet, 
body  pieces,  and  greaves  for  the  legs  and  armsy  all-trf  wood,  covered  neatly  with 
copper  or  gold  plates,  so  well  done  that  the  pieces  looked  as  if  they  were  of  solid 
metal. 

The  following  excerpts,  arranged  geographically,  describing  armor 
from  other  tribes  not  represented  by  extant  specimens,  are  introduced 
here  to  show  the  range  of  armor  in  America. 

The  Nass  Indians  of  the  Tsimshian  stock  follow  the  other  stocks  on 
the  Northwest  Coast  in  that — 

Their  war  garments  were  formed  of  2,  3,  or  more  folds  of  the  strongest  hides  of 
the  land  animals  they  were  able  to  procure.  In  the  center  was  a  hole  sufficient  to 
admit  the  head  and  left  arm  to  pass  through,  the  mode  of  wearing  them  being  over 
the  right  shoulder  and'  under  the  left  arm.  The  left' side  of  the  garment  is  sewed 
up,  but  the  right  side  remains  open ;  the  body  is,  however,  tolerably  well  protected, 


*This  consists  of  a  coat,  holmet,  and  wide  belt  made  up  of  many  thicknesses  of 
coarse  cotton  cloth  covered  with  yellow  stuff.  The  coat  is  made  up  of  two  wide 
flaps  connected  by  a  band  which  passes  over  the  left  shoulder.  These  flaps  are  cut 
out  to  fit  the  neck,  and  are  tied  at  either  side.  A  plastron  of  cloth  is  hung  over  the 
chest.  The  surface  of  portions  of  the  coat  is  printed  with  Sanscrit  dharani,  or 
prayers  for  victory.  A  belt  resembling  those  worn  by  Korean  women  at  the  present 
time,  but  much  thicker,  is  tied  around  the  waist.  The  helmet  is  padded,  and  is 
stiffened  by  four  perpendicular  bands  of  iron  riveted  through  the  cloth  and  termi- 
nating in  a  brass  ball  at  the  apex.  Visor,  small ;  wide  and  heavy  epaules,  one  at 
eitber  side  at  the  back.  The  helmet  has  also  Sanscrit  dharani  written  upon  it. 
Length  oi  coat,  34  inches;  width,  30  inches;  length  of  belt,  54  inches;  width,  11 
inches;  height  of  helmet,  12  inches.  (Cat.  No.  128344  U.  S.  N.  M.  Korea.  Deposited 
by  Dr.  G.  Brown  Goode  ) 

tProscott,  Conquest  of  Peru,  1,  p.  67. 

t  Hansard,  History  of  Archery,  p.  23. 
,    §  Benzoni,  History  of  the  New  World,  Hakluyt  Soc,  p.  8. 


646  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

and  both  arms  are  left  at  liberty  for  action.     As  a  further  security,  on  the  part  which 
covers  the  breast  they  sometimes  fix  on  the  inside  thin  laths  of  wood.* 

On  Vancouver  Island  the  Nootkas  make  use  of —     • 

A  thick  tanned  leather  mantle,  doubled,  and  appears  to  be  the  skin  of  an  elk  or 
buffalo.  This  is  so  contrived  as  to  cover  the  breast  quite  up  to  the  throat,  part  of  it 
falling  down  to  the  heels.  This  garment  is  sometimes -very  curiously  painted,  and 
is  not  only  strong  enough  to  resist,  but,  as  we  understand  from  them,  spears  could 
not  penetrate  it.     So  it  may  be  considered  their  complete  defensive  armor,  t 

The  Ohinooks  of  the  Columbia  River  use  skin  and  rod  armor.  Eoss 
says,  in  reference  to  the  former,  their  war  garments  are. of  two  kinds; 
one  is  termed  clemal,  of  elk  skin,  dressed  and  worked  to  the  thickness 
of  nearly  half  an  inch,  and  arrow  proof.  The  clemal  nearly  covers  the 
whole  body,  with  an  opening  left  on  the  right  side  to  allow  the  arm  free 
action  in  combat.  (Ross,  Alex.,  Advent.,  etc.,  on  the  Oregou  or  Colum- 
bia River.     Lond.,  1849,  p.  89.) 

Franchere  says  of  the  Columbian  River  tribes : 

For  defensive  armor  they  wear  a  cassock  or  tunic  of  elk  skin,  double,  descending 
to  the  ankles,  with  holes  for  the  arms.  It  is  impenetrable  for  their  arrows,  which 
can  not  pierce  two  thicknesses  of  leather;  and  as  their  heads  are  also  covered  with 
a  sort  of  helmet,  the  neck  is  almost  the  only  part  in  which  they  can  be  wounded. 
They  have  another  kind  of  corselet  made  like  the  corsets  of  our  ladies,  of  splinters 
of  hard  wood  interlaced  with  nettle  twine.  The  warriors  who  wear  this  curious 
dress  do  not  use  the  tunic  of  elk  skin.  He  is  consequently  less  protected,  but  a  good 
deal  more  free,  the  said  tunic  being  very  heavy  and  very  stiff.! 

Passing  eastward,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  when  speaking  of  the  Shoshoni 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  at  the  head  of  the  Missouri  River,  remark: 

They  have  a  kind  of  armor,  something  like  a  coat  of  mail,  which  is  formed  by  a 
great  many  folds  of  dressed  antelope  skins,  united  by  means  of  a  mixture  of  glue 
and  sand.  With  this  they  cover  their  own  bodies  and  those  of  their  horses,  and  find 
it  impervious  to  the  arrow. § 

Mr.  Dorsey  informs  me  that  there  is  reason  to  belieYe  that  the  Pawni 
formerly  employed  a  kind  of  hide  cuirass  and  a  defensive  helmet,  and 
as  Du  Pratz  states  that  the  Padoucas  (Comanches)  "cover  their  horses 
with  dressed  leather  (probably  bison  hide),  hanging  down  quite  round, 
which  secures  them  from  darts,"  it  is  perhaps  permissible  to  infer  that 
their  riders  were  protected  in  the  same  way. 

In  that  wonderful  origin-epic  of  theNavajoes  the  Indian  singer  chants 
to  Dr.  Matthews  of  "  suits  of  armor  made  of  several  layers  of  buckskin. 
The  warriors  in  those  days  wore  such  armor,  but  they  wear  it  no 
longer."  || 


*  Vancouver,  Voyage,  Vol.  n.,  p.  339. 

t  Cook's  Voy.,  Vol.  n.,  p.  246. 

t  Franchere,  Gabriel,  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  the  Northwest  Coast  of  America. 
New  York,  1854,  p.  253. 

§  Lewis  and  Clarke,  Allen  ed.,  Vol.  I,  425, 1814. 

||  Matthews,  Washington,  The  Mountain  Chant.  Annual  Report  of  tb  >  Bureau  of 
Ethnology,  1883-'84,  p.  73. 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR.  647 

Among  the  Pueblo  tribes  u  they  also  wore  cuirasses  of  elk  or  bison 
skin,  or  of  padded  cotton  and  yucca,  and  carried  round  shields  of 
basketry  of  heavily  and  closely  netted  cotton,  or  of  thick  rawhide, 
symbolically  painted."  * 

Coming  to  the  great  civilizations  of  ancient  Mexico,  Bancroft  says  of 
the  Xahua  Indians  of  Mexico: 

The  chimalli,  or  Mexican  shield,  was  made  of  various  materials  and  of  divers 
forms, sometimes  rounded  and  sometimes  oval;  sometimes  rounded  on  the  lower  side. 
It  was  commonly  constructed  of  flexible  bamboo  canes  bound  firmly  together  and 
covered  with  hide.  The  face  of  the  shield  was  ornamented  according  to  the  rank 
and  taste  of  the  wearer;  that  of  a  noble  was  generally  covered  with  thin  plates  of 
gold,  with  a  heavy  boss  in  the  center.  In  Tabasco  and  along  the  coast  tortoise  shells 
inlaid  with  gold,  silver,  or  copper  were  commonly  used  as  shields.  Reeds,  grass,  hides, 
or  'nequen  cloth,  coated  with  india  rubber,  served  to  protect  an  Aztec  common  soldier. 
Some  shields  were  of  an  ordinary  size;  others  were  intended  to  cover  the  entire  body, 
and  were  constructed  so  that  when  not  in  use  they  could  be  folded  up  and  carried 
under  the  arm.  The  body  armor  of  the  nobles  and  higher  grades  of  warriors  con- 
sisted of  a  breastplate  made  of  quirted  cotton,  one  or  two  fingers  in  thickness,  called 
"ichcahuipilli."  Over  this  was  a  thick  cotton  coat  which  covered  part  of  the  arms 
and  thighs,  made  in  one  piece,  fastened  behind  and  decorated  with  feathers  of  the 
color  of  the  company's  uniform.  The  cotton  armor  was  completely  arrow  proof. 
Arm  and  leg  guards  made  of  wood,  covered  with  leather  or  gold  plates  and  trimmed 
with  feathers,  and  of  the  same  material,  shaped  and  painted  to  represent  the  head  of 
a  tiger,  serpent,  or  monster  with  mouth  open  and  teeth  bared,  complete  the 
defensive  armor,  t 

Again,  in  treating  of  theToltecs,  Veytia  relates: 

The  body  armor  worn  by  the  principal  warriors  was  made  of  double  cloth  padded 
with  cotton.  It  differed  from  that  of  the  Aztecs,  reaching  down  the-ankles?  and  was 
worn  over  a  thin  white  tunic.  The  private  soldier  painted  the  upper  part  of  the 
body  to  represent  armor,  but  from  the  waist  to  the  thighs  they  wore  short  drawers, 
and  over  them  fastened  around  the  waist  a  kind  of  kilt  that  reached  to  the  knee, 
and  availed  them  somewhat  for  defense.  Across  the  body  was  a  sash  made  of 
feathers  that  passed  from  the  right  shoulder  to  the  left  side  of  the  waist,  j 

Cotton-padded  armor  seems  to  have  been  the  principal  type  used  in 
Mexico.     Among  the  Mayas  of  Mexico — 

In  addition  to  shields  the  Mayas  had  for  defensive  armor  garments  of  thickly- 
quilted  cotton,  called  escaupiles,  which  covered  the  body  down  to  the  lower  part  of 
the  thigh,  and  were  considered  impervious  to  arrows. § 

There  are  a  few  references  among  the  Isthmian  tribes  of  the  use  of 
armor  where  the  skin  and  rod  types  persist.  Gabb  says  that  the  Bri 
Bris  and  Tiribis,  Costa  Rica,  use  u  an  iron-headed  lance  with  shaft 
barely  4  feet  long.  Round  shields  were  carried  on  the  arm,  made  of 
the  thickest  part  of  the  hide  of  the  tapir."  || 

*  Extract  from  article  "Pueblos,"  by  F.  H.  Cushing,  to  be  published  in  Johnson's 
Cyclopaedia. 

t  Bancroft,  H.  H.,  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  States,  Vol.  n.,  p.  407. 

J  Veytia,  Hist.  Ant.  Mej.,  Tom.  i,  pp.  289-90. 

§  Bancr<  ?t,  op.,  cit.,  i,  p.  655. 

||  Gabb,  A.  M.,  Indians  of  Costa  Rica,  p.  516,  Proc.  Am.  Philos.  Soc,  Aug.  20,  1875. 


648  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,  1893. 

The  Mosquito  Indians  of  Honduras  also  employed  armor.  Bancroft 
says: 

Armor  is  made  of  plaited  reeds  covered  with  tiger  skins  aud  ornamented  with 
feathers;  besides  this  they  employ  a  breastplate  of  twisted  cotton.'' 

Entering  the  continent  of  South  America  we  find  that — 

The  Abipones  are  unacquainted  with  shields  and  targets,  but  they  cover  greatest 
part  of  their  bodies  with  a  sort  of  defense  made  of  an  undressed  anta's  hide,  a  tiger 
skin  being  sewed  either  in  the  in  or  out  side;  it  is  open  in  the  middle,  that  the  head 
may  come  through,  and  extended  on  each  side  as  far  as  the  elbows  and  middle;  it  is 
impenetrable  to  common  arrows,  but  not  to  spears  and  bullets. t 

In  the  vast  continent  of  South  America  there  are  only  scattering 
references  to  the  use  of  armor.  In  the  southern  extremity,  where  the 
phase  of  life  assumes  a  resemblance  to  that  of  our  North  American 
tribes,  we  find  well-known  forms  of  armor.  The  cavalry  of  the  Arau- 
canians  is  "armed  with  swords  and  lances;  formerly  used  bows  and 
slings.  The  soldiers  are  not  clothed  in  uniform,  according  to  the 
European  custom,  but  all  wear  beneath  their  usual  dress  cuirasses  of 
leather,  hardened  by  a  peculiar  mode  of  dressing  j  their  shields  and 
helmets  are  also  made  of  the  same  material."  J 

The  Patagonians  also  wear  a  helmet  with  coat  of  mail,  made  of  sev- 
eral folds  of  hide,  and  have  a  shield  of  bull's  hide  for  use  on  foot.§ 
Their  weapons  are  bows,  lances,  bolas,  and  clubs. 

3.  EASTERN  AREA. 

There  is  sufficient  historical  evidence  that  the  defensive  weapons  of 
the  east  coast  were  similar  to  those  of  the  west  coast.  The  lakes  and 
rivers  with  short  portages  rendered  communication  easy  across  this 
vast  distance,  and  points  out  a  great  line  of  migration  both  of  peoples 
and  inventions.     This  is  shown  by  the  following  reference: 

Some  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago  a  party  of  Iroquois,  having  crossed  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  reached  L.  Tathain  two  wooden  canoes,  which  at  once  excited  the  covet- 
ousness  of  a  band  of  Carriers,  who  killed  the  strangers  for  the  sake  of  their  canoes. 
These  having  been  brought  here  (Stuart's  Lake)  served  as  models  for  the  building  of 
the  first  home-made  "dugouts."  || 

On  the  Atlantic  slope  there  is  abundant  evidence  to  show  that  the 
Iroquois  used  body  armor.  Cartier  (Hakluyt  Yoy.,Vol.  Ill,  London, 
1810),  speaking  of  the  Toudamani  (Iroquois,  probably  Onondaga  and 
Seneca)  says: 

Also  they  showed  us  the  manner  and  making  of  their  armor;  they  are  made  of 
cordes  and  wood,  finely  and  cunningly  wrought  together. 

*  Bancroft,  op.  cit.,  I,  p.  723. 

tWaitz.     Anthropologie,  Vol.  II,  p.  361. 

{Thompson,  G.  A.  Alcedo's  Geogr.  and  Hist.  Diet,  of  America.  Lond.,  1812,  Vol. 
I,  p.  407. 

§  Falkner.     Description  of  Patagonia,  p.  129. 

||Morice,  A.  G.  Proc.  Canadian  Inst.,  Oct.,  1889,  p.  131.  The  Carriers  previously 
had  birch-bark  canoes. 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN    ARMOR.  649 

Lafitau,  whose  famous  work  "Moeurs  des  Sauvages  Ameriquains," 
was  published  in  1724,  gives  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  defensive 
armor  of  the  tribes  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  present  United  States 
and  of  Canada,  probably  referring  chiefly  to  the  Iroquois  and  Huron, 
with  whom  he  was  most  familiar.     He  says  (Vol.  n,  p.  197) : 

Their  cuirasses  were  a  tissue  of  wood,  or  of  small  sticks  of  reed  cut  of  proportionate 
lengths,  strongly  pressed  against  each  other,  woven  and  enlaced  very  neatly  with 
small  cords  made  of  deer  skin.  They  had  cuissards  and  brassards  (defensive  cover- 
ings for  the  thighs  and  arms)  of  the  same  material.  These  cuirasses  were  proof 
against  arrows  armed  with  bone  or  stone,  but  not  against  those  mounted  with  iron. 

Charlevoix  says  of  the  Iroquois: 

Most  had  no  defensive  weapon,  but  when  they  attacked  any  iutrenchment,  they 
covered  their  whole  body  with  small,  light  boards.  Some  have  a  sort  of  cuirass  or 
breastplate  of  small,  pliable  rings,  very  neatly  worked.  They  had  even  formerly  a 
kind  of  mail  for  the  arms  and  thighs,  made  of  the  same  materials.  But  as  this  kind 
of  armor  was  found  not  to  be  proof  against  firearms,  they  have  renounced  them 
without  putting  anything  in  their  place.* 

Sagard  says  that  the  Hurons  (Iroquois)  had  armor  made  of  wood.t 
Champlain  also  describes  the  Iroquois'  armor  as  made  of  wood  and 
thread.^  A  plate  in  the  same  volume  shows  a  warrior  in  armor.  Wooden 
breastplates  were  worn.§  Copper  breastplates  have  been  found,  like 
the  gold  breastplates  of  Peru.||  One  has  been  described  as  a  plate  of 
rich  copper,  in  length  a  foot,  in  width  half  a  foot,  for  a  breastplate. *\] 
Lucian  Carr  thinks  these  breastplates  were  for  ornament,  like  those 
found  in  the  Ohio  mounds.  The  size  of  the  New  England  breastplates, 
however,  would  render  them  a  tolerable  protection  if  used  as  a  plastron- 

The  only  reference  to  eastern  skin  armor  is  of  the  Mohawks,  who 
u  wear  sea-horse  skins  and  barks  of  trees  made  by  their  art  as  impene- 
trable, it  is  thought,  as  steel,  wearing  a  headpiece  of  the  same."** 

In  reference  to  the  Virginia  Indians,  Hariot  says : 

They  are  a  people  clothed  with  loose  mantles  made  of  Deere  skins,  and  aprons  of 
the  same  rounde  about  their  middles;  all  e^e  naked;  of  such  a  difference  of  statures 
only  as  wee  in  England;  having  no  edge  tooles  or  weapons  of  yron  or  Steele  to  offend 
us  withall,  neither  know  they  how  to* make  any:  those  weapos  that  they  have  are 
onlie  bowes  made  of  Witch  hazle,  and  arrowes  of  reeds ;  flat  edged  truncheons  also 
of  wood  about  a  yard  long,  neither  hay©  they  any  thing  to  defend  themselves  but 
targets  made  of  barcks;  and  som©  armours  made  of  stickes  wickered  together  with 
thread,  ft 

*  Charlevoix,  P.  F.  X.  de,  Vol.  i,  338.     Loud.,  1761. 

t  Voyage  des  Hurons,  i,  p.  144. 

4  Champlain,  i,  p.  201.     Paris,  1830. 

$  Hakluyt's  Voyages,  ill,  p.  305. 

HBreastplate  of  Gold.     Peru.     J.  Anthrop.  Inst.,  Vol.  xviii.     No.  3.     Feb.,  1889. 

1T  Archer  account,  Griswold's  Voyages,  p.  75  in  Vol.  vm,  35  Mass.  Historical  Col- 
lection. 

**New  England  Prospect,  p.  65. 

tt  A  brief  and  true  report  of  the  new-found  land  of  Virginia,  Thomas  Hariot,  1585, 
De  Bry,  p.  24. 


\ 


650  REPORT    OF    NATIONAL    MUSEUM,   1893. 

I  have  not  met  with  accounts  of  armor  among  the  southern  tribes,  a? 
the  Muskoki  group  and  others,  but  should  hesitate  to  conclude  that  tin 
idea  of  a  defense  for  the  body  against  arrows  and  spears,  other  than 
the  shields,  had  not  occurred  to  these  progressive  tribes. 

As  a  rule,  the  helmet  is  the  most  striking  and  prominent  portion  of 
body  armor. 

War  bonuets  and  various  head  coverings  of  the  American  aborigines, 
in  many  cases,  may  be  classed  with  helmets.  The  function  of  the  hel- 
met, after  protection,  is  to  adorn  the  head,  but  an  almost  constant  fea- 
ture is  that  of  inspiring  fear  by  grotesque  or  horrid  construction.  Thus 
the  helmet  is  connected  with  the  mask. 

There  is  a  large  series  of  Northwest  Coast  helmets  in  the  National 
Museum.  (See  pi.  9.)  They  are  always  of  wood^  fitting  the  head, 
carved  above  to  represent  animals,  grotesque  faces,  etc.,  always  painted 
and  sometimes  carved  with  a  rim  like  a  hat.  There  is  in  the  collection 
one  helmet  of  wood  covered  with  leather.  Another  fine  helmet  (Oat.  No. 
168157)  from  the  Taku  Indians  of  southern  Alaska  is  carved  from  solid 
wood  in  form  of  the  Japanese  type,  called  Kabuto  or  pot  helmet.  The 
front  is  finely  worked  out  into  the  form  of  a  grotesque  face,  with  deep 
furrows  across  the  nose,  cheeks,  and  forehead,  like  New  Zealand  tattoo- 
ing, and  painted  green,  red,  and  black.  The  ears  at  the  side  of  the  mask 
are  accurately  executed.  The  mask  projects  above  the  crown  of  the 
helmet  and  the  upper  ridge  is  studded  with  wooden  pegs,  which  once 
held  a  fringe  of  sea-lion  whiskers  or  bristles.  Pegs  are  also  seen  on  the 
chin  and  lips.  The  rear  and  rim  of  the  helmet  bear  a  totemic-painted 
carving  in  low  relief. 

Through  the  inner  edge  of  the  rim  of  the  helmet  four  slanting  holes 
have  been  bored.  These  were  probably  for  the  passage  of  thongs 
which  held  a  mask-visor  before  the  face. 

Visors  were  worn,  carved  to  represent  a  face,  or  bowed  visors  ingen- 
iously made  by  cutting  deep  scarfs  in  the  wood,  allowing  it  to  bend. 
On  the  interior  of  this  style  of  visor  was  a  projecting  grommet  which 
was  taken  between  the  teeth,  holding  the  visor  in  place.  Other  mask- 
like visors  were  suspended  from  the  helmet  with  cords  and  a  couvre  de 
nuque  was  often  attached  to  the  back. 

TMie  only  other  survival  of  helmets  in  North  America  is  among  the 
Pueblo  Indians,  where  they  appear  in  ceremonies,  in  the  form  of  mask 
helmets. 

A  few  historical  notices  have  been  given  of  the  helmets  used  by  the 
eastern  Indians. 

A  summary  of  the  main  conclusions  which  may  be  drawn  from  the 
foregoing  paper  will  show : 

(1)  That  a  majority  of  the  American  tribes  had  advanced  to  the  stage 
where  they  made  use  of  body  armor — that  is,  were  sedentary  tribes. 

(2)  This  also  implies  differentiation  of  weapons  rendering  armor 
necessary,  or  the  migration  of  the  invention,  or  independent  in venticnu 


.. 


PRIMITIVE    AMERICAN   ARMOR. 


651 


coat  of  thick  skin  which  has  appeared  at  all  times  and  places 
iy  have  arisen  independently,  following  the  prime  idea  of  the  con- 
jnitance  of  weapon  and  an ti weapon,  but — 

■3)  Plate  armor  in  America  is  a  clear  case  of  the  migration  of  inven- 
pn,  its  congeners  having  been  traced  from  Japan  northeastward 
irough  the  Ainos,  Giliaks,  and  Chukchis,  across  Bering  Strait  by  the 
intervening  islands  to  the  western  Eskimo.  Here  the  armor  spread 
southward  from  the  narrowest  part  of  the  strait,  passing  into  the  slat 
armor  of  the  "North west  Coast,  which  is  possibly  a  development  of  the 
plate  idea.  The  plate  armor  also  may  have  spread  to  the  eastern  coast 
of  North  America.  Hence  it  appears  to  be  conclusive  that  plate  armor 
(in  America  had  Asiatic  origin.  The  date  of  this  introduction  is  not 
^considered. 


\ 


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